Rassie Erasmus opts for continuity in search of Rugby Championship title

Ralph Staniforth

Editor

Last updated: 3 hours ago

Ralph Staniforth 3 hours ago

Share this article

Springboks make only 4 changes for next Rugby Championship match.
Jesse Kriel and Bongi Mbonambi return to the squad.
Victory will likely secure a historic back-to-back title for South Africa.

Springboks looking for their first-ever back-to-back Rugby Championship title (Getty Images)

Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff have once again opted for continuity as they search for their first ever back-to-back Rugby Championship title. Only four changes have been made to the 23-man squad, one of which is in the starting 15.

Those four changes sees Grant Williams, Jesse Kriel, Bongi Mbonambi come onto the bench with Ox Nche returning to the starting lineup.

Nche was announced in the side for last week's Test at Kings Park, but a late withdrawal saw Boan Venter get a start.

Erasmus is known for many things since he took over the reins as Springbok coach back in 2018. However, the one thing he has not regularly done is pick consistent sides, but perhaps this is now the new norm as his rotations have built up plenty of squad depth over the last seven years.

Williams, who has seemingly been the first-choice pick at scrumhalf also picked up an injury which meant he missed last week's match. Reinach retains his starting berth, but Williams replaces Morde van den Berg on the bench, despite the youngster having a decent impact off the bench last weekend.

Bongi Mbonambi is somewhat of a surprise after the experienced hooker, who has won two World Cup titles, has been on the sidelines in recent weeks. Many have felt that Mbonambi's poor form this season might mean his time with the national side may be coming to an end, but Erasmus obviously still has faith in the hard-nosed hooker.

Jesse Kriel also finally reappears in the squad after missing the last few games. The much lauded outside centre still has plenty to offer at national level and covers a few positions from the bench.

What's on the Line?

As Rassie Erasmus has already stated this week, it is a final for the Springboks. By the time they kick off in London, they will already know what they need to achieve to secure the title. At this point, this game is a final for South Africa who have never won the Rugby Championship (or the preceding Tri Nations) in two successive years.

A victory will almost certainly secure the title for the Springboks as the points difference New Zealand and Australia need to make up is enormous.

Two years out from the World Cup, the Springboks are already looking like very strong contenders. Many things can, and almost will, still happen, but the South Africans have the depth to cover injuries in almost all areas.

This week will be a good test, particularly for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu after his heroic display at Kings Park this past Saturday.